Best thing Michael Nau's done since Hello, Dear Wind. Pretty, reverby, bluesy folk pop that is simply solid. (7/10)
(31) Mythomania - Cryptacize (Asthmatic Kitty)
Nice, quirky indie pop from Nedelle and Chris Cohen (ex-Deerhoof). Some nice tunes, but mostly pretty boring. (6/10)
(32) Tentacles - Crystal Antlers (Touch & Go)
This would be pretty decent if the vocals weren't so goddamned awful and the whole thing wasn't so obnoxious. (5.5/10)
(33) Mama, I'm Swollen - Cursive (Saddle Creek)
With their return to slightly more straightforward, v. dark emo-ish rock, somehow Cursive are still relevant and good. (7/10)
(34) Why There Are Mountains - Cymbals Eat Guitars (self-released)
Solid, intense, dramatic, sorta emo-ish 90s style indie rock with Tim Kinsella-esque vox. Prettay good. (6.5/10)
(35) Dark Night of the Soul - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse (self-released)
A subtle, theatrical, intense, wonderfully dark, collaborative mega-opus. Chilling and gorgeous. (8/10)
(36) Bromst - Dan Deacon (Carpark)
Not much different from Spiderman of the Rings, but still really neat, bloopy, arty electro pop. Also, beautiful. (8/10)
(37) Spritle 7" - Deastro (Five Three Dial Tone)
The slight additions to "Spritle" are unnecessary, but song still rules. "Treefrog" is standard synth pop fare. (6.5/10)
(38) Moondagger - Deastro (Ghostly International)
Kind of emo-y, New Order-ish synth pop to the max. A lot of it blends together too much, but overall, not too shabs. (6/10)
(39) The Open Door EP - Death Cab for Cutie (Atlantic)
I think I can finally say that I am over this band. "My Mirror Speaks" is a good song, though. (4.5/10)
(40) Split 7" - Child Bite/This Moment in Black History (Forge Again)
I give the Child Bite song an 8/10, but I can't really stand the TMIBH one. (5/10)
(41) The Hazards of Love - The Decemberists (Capitol)
The Crane Wife was the first step in the wrong direction (despite some jams), but this is MUCH WORSE. Ridic. (3/10)
(42) Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP - Deerhunter (Kranky)
This is really good, but doesn't offer much more than the shoegaze/psych pop they've already become known for. (7.5/10)
(43) Hot Green 7" - Algernon Cadwallader (Be Happy)
Dudes are nothing new at all, but they do the Cap'n Jazz/American Football emo stuff REALLY WELL. (7.5/10)
(44) From Way Out to Way Under - Copper Thieves (Jack Holmes)
A solid mix of 90s indie rock and 70s classic rock with some unconventional drumming from these Detroit boys. (6.5/10)
(45) Farm - Dinosaur Jr. (Jagjaguwar)
Another Dino Jr. album that sounds just like any of their other ones, and somehow it is still really good. (8/10)
(46) Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors (Domino)
Arty, soulful, Zeppelin-y indie rock loaded with R&B vocal acrobatics. UP THERE with AC's MPP, duh. (9/10)
(47) Ducktails - Ducktails (Not Not Fun)
Mostly instrumental, trippy, ambient something. Neat and pretty, but probs need to be high off my ass to get it. (6.5/10)
This would be pretty decent if the vocals weren't so goddamned awful and the whole thing wasn't so obnoxious. (5.5/10)
(33) Mama, I'm Swollen - Cursive (Saddle Creek)
With their return to slightly more straightforward, v. dark emo-ish rock, somehow Cursive are still relevant and good. (7/10)
(34) Why There Are Mountains - Cymbals Eat Guitars (self-released)
Solid, intense, dramatic, sorta emo-ish 90s style indie rock with Tim Kinsella-esque vox. Prettay good. (6.5/10)
(35) Dark Night of the Soul - Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse (self-released)
A subtle, theatrical, intense, wonderfully dark, collaborative mega-opus. Chilling and gorgeous. (8/10)
(36) Bromst - Dan Deacon (Carpark)
Not much different from Spiderman of the Rings, but still really neat, bloopy, arty electro pop. Also, beautiful. (8/10)
(37) Spritle 7" - Deastro (Five Three Dial Tone)
The slight additions to "Spritle" are unnecessary, but song still rules. "Treefrog" is standard synth pop fare. (6.5/10)
(38) Moondagger - Deastro (Ghostly International)
Kind of emo-y, New Order-ish synth pop to the max. A lot of it blends together too much, but overall, not too shabs. (6/10)
(39) The Open Door EP - Death Cab for Cutie (Atlantic)
I think I can finally say that I am over this band. "My Mirror Speaks" is a good song, though. (4.5/10)
(40) Split 7" - Child Bite/This Moment in Black History (Forge Again)
I give the Child Bite song an 8/10, but I can't really stand the TMIBH one. (5/10)
(41) The Hazards of Love - The Decemberists (Capitol)
The Crane Wife was the first step in the wrong direction (despite some jams), but this is MUCH WORSE. Ridic. (3/10)
(42) Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP - Deerhunter (Kranky)
This is really good, but doesn't offer much more than the shoegaze/psych pop they've already become known for. (7.5/10)
(43) Hot Green 7" - Algernon Cadwallader (Be Happy)
Dudes are nothing new at all, but they do the Cap'n Jazz/American Football emo stuff REALLY WELL. (7.5/10)
(44) From Way Out to Way Under - Copper Thieves (Jack Holmes)
A solid mix of 90s indie rock and 70s classic rock with some unconventional drumming from these Detroit boys. (6.5/10)
(45) Farm - Dinosaur Jr. (Jagjaguwar)
Another Dino Jr. album that sounds just like any of their other ones, and somehow it is still really good. (8/10)
(46) Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors (Domino)
Arty, soulful, Zeppelin-y indie rock loaded with R&B vocal acrobatics. UP THERE with AC's MPP, duh. (9/10)
(47) Ducktails - Ducktails (Not Not Fun)
Mostly instrumental, trippy, ambient something. Neat and pretty, but probs need to be high off my ass to get it. (6.5/10)
(48) OK Bear - Jeremy Enigk (Lewis Hollow/Cydonia)
Ex-SDRE frontman creates a gorgeously layered, accessible pop record that is somewhat forgettable but solid. (6.5/10)
(49) Yesterday & Today - The Field (Kompakt/Anti-)
Very pretty and only slightly interesting electronic songs that are way too long. I will slightly smile and yawn. (6/10)
(50) Tonight: Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
Former arty, dance-y post punk hype band complete their journey into the realm of irrelevance. This is bad. (3/10)
(51) The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys (Castle Face)
60s lo-fi psychedelic rock, like The Velvet Underground and The Zombies, with a smidgen of post punk. GOOD. (7/10)
(52) Born Radical - Friendly Foes (Gangplank)
90s style punk-infused indie rock a la Superchunk and the like. Nothing groundbreaking, but totes good. (6.5/10)
(53) God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl (Matador)
Stuart Murdoch twee-popera with the rest of B & S and friends. Defs corny in parts, but still wonderful. (7.5/10)
(54) Petits Fours - Grand Duchy (Cooking Vinyl)
Sweet Pixies-ish indie pop from Frank Black and wife. A little synthy, a lot of badass mixed with cute. (7/10)
(55) Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear (Warp)
Over-hyped, is no Yellow House, and missing the eerie vibe, but DAMN, guys. Way to record a helluva record. (8.5/10)
(56) Face Control - Handsome Furs (Sub Pop)
Wolf Parade's D. Boeckner + wife wax electronic on his WP style with decent results. "Legal Tender" rules hard. (6.5/10)
Ex-SDRE frontman creates a gorgeously layered, accessible pop record that is somewhat forgettable but solid. (6.5/10)
(49) Yesterday & Today - The Field (Kompakt/Anti-)
Very pretty and only slightly interesting electronic songs that are way too long. I will slightly smile and yawn. (6/10)
(50) Tonight: Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
Former arty, dance-y post punk hype band complete their journey into the realm of irrelevance. This is bad. (3/10)
(51) The Fresh & Onlys - The Fresh & Onlys (Castle Face)
60s lo-fi psychedelic rock, like The Velvet Underground and The Zombies, with a smidgen of post punk. GOOD. (7/10)
(52) Born Radical - Friendly Foes (Gangplank)
90s style punk-infused indie rock a la Superchunk and the like. Nothing groundbreaking, but totes good. (6.5/10)
(53) God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl (Matador)
Stuart Murdoch twee-popera with the rest of B & S and friends. Defs corny in parts, but still wonderful. (7.5/10)
(54) Petits Fours - Grand Duchy (Cooking Vinyl)
Sweet Pixies-ish indie pop from Frank Black and wife. A little synthy, a lot of badass mixed with cute. (7/10)
(55) Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear (Warp)
Over-hyped, is no Yellow House, and missing the eerie vibe, but DAMN, guys. Way to record a helluva record. (8.5/10)
(56) Face Control - Handsome Furs (Sub Pop)
Wolf Parade's D. Boeckner + wife wax electronic on his WP style with decent results. "Legal Tender" rules hard. (6.5/10)
2 comments:
I love your Decemberists Twitter review. You nailed it.
Surprised that Sholi is not on your list yet. They released one of the years best records, and definitely the year's best drumming record. Was produced by Greg Saunier of Deerhoof out on Touch and Go.
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